More than 18,000 people liked her photo, with both men and women commending the teen for promoting body positivity. Comments ranged from “Yep. So young and wise. Mom and dad did a good job” to “…Dark n lovely young woman. Don’t ever forget it. We need more young women like you to help teacher our babies some self worth” and “You’re gorgeous and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Love your hair too!”

Broadus did not return Yahoo Beauty’s request for comment, but the teen, who just graduated high school in May, is already a young thought leader.

In November, she opened up about her struggles with self-acceptance, writing on Instagram, “I can finally say I’m comfortable in my own skin, grew up despising the skin tone I was in because it’s been bashed on for so long & society has been putting in our heads that dark is ugly. For all you beautiful chocolate girls/women out there you’re BEAUTIFUL & don’t let anyone tell you different.”

These sentiments are important for young girls to hear, according to Vickie M. Mays, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. “These messages of empowerment — being full-bodied with dark skin and natural hair — have been in the African-American community for a while, but that’s not the message often promoted by the media,” she tells Yahoo Beauty.

“We need to say thank you to Snoop Dogg for raising that child with incredible consciousness,” adds Mays. “She made a contribution, one of leadership and beauty.”